words came out. She stared a

just took

ned, pursi

don't want me t

the bathroom. The maids looked at her with pity, as if she were a lamb being led to the sl

maid then dried her hair, then, after pouring perfumed oil into it, let it fall down her back. Light ma

s finished, she wa

s on and

he took a deep breath, and then pulled out a long purple dress. She was already

r pull her hair

felt even more frightened being alone with Ma Lee. Ma Lee led her to the third floor, and Tiana's jaw dropped open. It was as if this floor belonged to a different house. Unlike the

the floor. Ma Lee stopped abruptly in front of a large door at the end of the lon

ome

to erase that timbre from her memory. Ma Le

te, and vast. There were several distinct spaces

was a small sitting room in one corner of the room, dark painti

the window. He was staring at her intently, puffing on his cigar. She

rough

re. Although her face remained impassive, her attitude was radically different

all into the ashtray. He remained silent, and Ma Lee bowed slightly before lea

alm. He was a good distance away from her, but his aura filled the entire room. Since they had entered, he still hadn't said a word. Eve

wn at her. She was standing straight by the door, her arms behind her back. Even

e said nothing. His dark eyes remained fixed o

facial features: he seemed furious, as if he urg

proa

He continued smoking as i

the hard tile beneath her feet, until she stopped about two meters away from him, unable

his sides, still c

as still too far away, but he di

ff your

diately. Tiana's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't

The thought alone made her want to vomit.

knew she had no choice. It was the pact she'd made. Nicklaus was still smoking,

ow raised, and

steps back, h

not ready. Could

f herself, but she had been wrong. In that precise moment, she understood how

y. He crushed out the cigar in the

nion. I just told you t

up at him. If he was planning to rape her, he could

eyes, as if he were amused by her suffering, as if h

... I'm